Crab trap



y 25, 1954 w. F. HOWARD I 2,679,125

CRAB TRAP Filed April 10, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. I. Fig. 2

HI 3 I F n? i 26 /72 Walter E Howard INVENTOR.

Ammqs W. F. HOWARD CRAB TRAP May 25, 1954 Filed April 10, 1952 Fig. 4.

Fig. 8.

Fig.5.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. /2.

F ig] 74 40 Walter 1-. Howard INVENTOR.

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Patented May 25, 1 954 UNITED S A ES PATENT OFFICE Application April 10, 1952, Serial No. 281,503

3 Claims.

in the provision of unique means for sustaining 1 the trap in its open position while it is being lowered into the water, then conditioning the sustaining means for tripping, and tripping means for releasing the sustaining means, these various means being coordinated in such manner that a single cable is used for holding the trap and actuating thesame.

With the above more important objects and features in View, and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and constructionof parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the ini vention while it is being lowered into the water;

Figure 2 is a sideelevational view thereof in condition for tripping;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the trip device in readiness for raising;

Figure 4 is atop plan, view of the invention on an enlarged scale; 1 Figure 5 is a vertical. sectional view showing the cover in released position,;taken substantially in the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 4and with the upper portion of the trap omitted;

Figure 6 is a sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5-6 of Figure 1;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary elevational detail, illustrating components of the sustaining, conditioning and tripping means used in the invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the suspension member;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of an eye unit;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a tripping link;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a setting pin; and

Referring now to the accompanying drawings Figure 12 is a perspective view of a portion of in detail, the invention consists of a crab trap which is designated generally by the reference character and embodies in its construction a frame 22 including a circular, foraminous bottom 24 provided with a marginal rim 26 having a plurality of spaced eyes 28 thereon, these eyes having secured therein by suitable nuts 30, 3| the lower extremities of pairs of upstanding side members 32 of the frame.

The sidemembers 32 in each pair have parallel upper portions connected together by a transverse top member 34 which is provided intermediate the ends thereof with an eye 36, and the several top members of the frame cross each other and are connected together by an intermediate shank portion 38 of an eye piece (see Figure 9) which is provided at its upper and lower ends with a pair of vertically disposed eyes 40, 42. Moreover, the upper eye 40 has secured to one side thereof a horizontally disposed eye 44, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

The aforementioned side members 32 have mutually divergent lower portions 46 and an inverted cup-shaped cover 43 of foraminous material is provided in the top thereof with apertures 50 to slidably receive the parallel upper portions of the side members 32, whereby the entire cover may be shifted from a raised, open position shown in Figures 1 and 2 to a lowered, closed position shown in Figures 3 and 5, wherein the cover coacts with the bottom 24 to provide an enclosure 52.

It will be noted that the angulations between the parallel upper portions of the side members 32 and divergent lower portions 46 thereof con stitute what may be referred to as stops 54 which areengaged by the eyes 5&3 of the cover 48 when the cover is in its lowered position. The cover has a truncated side wall so as to fully receive the bottom 24 therein and thereby prevent any possibility of the crabs lifting the cover and escaping.

Means are provided for sustaining the cover 48 in its raised position, these means consisting of a sustaining member 55 (see Figure 8) which is preferably formed from wire and is provided intermediate the ends thereof with a loop 58, swingably attached to the aforementioned eye 42. The member 56 also includes a hook 60 which is engageable with an eye 62 on the top wall of the cover 48, while the remaining end of the member 56 is equipped with an eye 64.

An intermediate portion or shank of a tripping link 66 is slidable in the eye 64, this link being provided at the opposite ends thereof with a pair of eyes 68, 10 (see Figure 10), the eye 68 being movably connected to the aforementioned eye 40, while the eye H3 is connected to the extremity of an actuating cable 12.

Finally, the invention embodies in its construction a setting pin 14 (see Figure 11) which is provided at one end thereof with an eye 16 for securing to an intermediate portion of the cable 12, the pin l ii being receivable; in an inverted position; in the-aforementioned eye as-is best shown in Figure 7.

Having thus described the construction of the invention, the operation thereof will now be;ex plained.

Before the trap is lowered into the-Water; suits able bait i8 is positioned on .thebottomid and, the cover 43 is sustained in its raised position by engaging the hook 58 with th eye 62 asshown Figure l. The setting pin M is inserted in the eye; 44"; and, when the,- trap is lowered into; the vmttarqbyr means of.- the cable 12, ,the pin .14; enr gaging ythe =eye t l 4; Will P sustain the entire weight of gthe-trapr Under: such circumstances, the pertionof the=cable 12= betweenithe pinJ'M and the link; BIS-will be slack as-shown in Figure-.1; .andithe linkfieitself' will extend; downwardlyas shown under the influence of gravity;

When the trap has reachedithe-bottom, slackening ofgthe, entire cable 12 willpermit the pin 14 1301011301) out, of, the eye;44, thus conditioning the suspension member fiit for tripping as shown inzFigure 2;

When. a crag, approaches the bait 18-; 0111 the bottom =15, the cable .12 is rpullediupwardly, which will swingthelink 65 upwardly-about theeye IB and them-ember fifisitselfwwillbe swung upwardly so.-.that the-hook-fi ltthereofy is disengaged from theaeyetazas shown in Figured, Thiswill auto;- matically; permit the: cover 48- to; slide down.- wardly;v on-the :side members 32,;so, as;to tr.ap: the crab on the bottom 24. Then, continued upward pulling, actionv of L the cable 12. will, 12158517118 entire trap to the surface-4" It isgto. be notedthat by virtue of-iits-yconstnucwtion; as described; the-entire trap may;bewreadi ly disassembled and 1 easily transported orstored; in aeomparatively small space when.itiisenottimuse;

It-is believed,- that theadvantages and v use; of the: inventionwill: be readily understood; from the foregoing disclosure; and; accordingly; furrther; description thereof; at this point: it; deemed unnecessary.

While in thezforegoi-ngtherehas beem shown andgdescribed the preferred/embodiment.of: this. invention it is, to be; understood that minor changes-in the .detailsqof, construction; combinationand arrangementof parts may beresortedgto without departing from the.= spirit and scope;v of the. invention.- as claimed.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. A crab trap comprising a frame including a bottom; upstanding side members and a top section, a cover slidable on said side members from a raised open position to a lowered closed position wherein it coacts with said bottom to form an enclosure, a sustaining member movably connected to said top section and, including; a: hookreleasablw engaging said cover to hold the-latter irr he raisedposition, a trip link movably connected to said top section and having a free outer end, said sustaining member slidably engaging said link whereby said hook may be released from said cover when the link is raised, a cable connected to the free end of saidrlinkpanieye, provided on said top section, and'a setting pin' secured to an intermediate portioniofjsaid cable and releasably engaging said eye, said cable having a slack portion between said pinandtsaidllink, whereby the link may be sustained,- in. a; lowered position.

2; In a crab trap; a bottom,,spaced.upstanding rods risingxfrom said bottom, a transverse top interconnecting the upper-ends-or" saidrods, a; cover, slidably disposed on said rodsfor'movemen-tfrom said. transverse top. toward: said, bot.- tom to enclose said'bottom, said transverse top having eyemeans thereon, an; eye piece received in saideye-means, a cable, a, link interconnecting-ithe upperend of saideye piece-to, saidcable, a-hook suspended from the. lowerend; of said: eye piece and suspending said, coverabove saidbottom; anda rigid, sustaining member projecting laterally from saidv hook and, slidably, embracing said link; said link, being, swingable; from a: posie tion disposed diagonallydownward from said eye-piece toa, position above; said, eye-piece, whereby upward; movement of said cable will swing;;said,- link= togztilt saidv hook. and release said cover,

3;, The-acombination, of claim. 2- includinga: pin securedmosaidlcable, andmeanstonlsaid eyepiece receiving said pin to retain said cable adjacent saidieyepiecet-prior to treleaseof the coverfrom the-a hooks References" Cited in the" file" of" this" patent- UNIT-IED STATES PATENTS invention, what is Number Name Date= 993537? Cole Feb: 82,1870 104,570 Fox Juner21; 18-70 106;858 Newton Aug: 3'0;-.1870 91'6;677 Culverhouse Mar. 30; 1909 1,5'64;l'4-75 Stickleyetal Decal; 1925 2,489,856: Buford Nov 29?, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number? Gountry, Date? 

